Thrust-bearing.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

J. T. COWLEY.

THRUST BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1901.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

110 MODEL.

UNITED STATES i 'atented November 24, 1903.

PATnNT rrrcn.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PLANTERS COMPRESS COMPANY OF MAINE, A COR- PORATION OF MAINE.

THRUST- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,906, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed February 20, 1901. Serial No. 48,082- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJAMES T. COWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful 'lhrust-Bearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thrust-bearings.

The object of the invention is to provide a thrust-bearing which is of simple construction and efficient in operation.

, A further object of theinvention is to provi de a thrust-bearin g which may be ef'fieiently lubricated.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanyin g drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal central section of a hydraulic jack, showing the application thereto of a form of thrust-bearing embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified construction of thrust-bearing which for many reasons embodies the best form of means in which I have contemplated carrying the principles of my invention into practical operation.

A thrust-bearing embodying my invention,

as shownin the drawings and hereinafter described, is applicable for use generally whereever thrust-bearings are employed. It is particularly designed for use in connection with the hydraulic or other jack employed in connection with the construction of apparatus for compressing fibrous or other material set forth, described, and claimed in Patent No. (530,369, issued August 8, 1899, to George A. Lowry. In said patent is set forth a compressing apparatus in which is employed a slotted head plate or cap and a compression chamber or holder open at both ends, said slotted head plate or cap being arranged over holder. In the operation of a compressing apparatus embodying these generic principles relative movement is imparted to the chamber or holder and the head plate or capas, for instance, by stationarily mounting the head plate or cap and rotating the chamber or holder. Before imparting such relative rotation the chamber or holder is filled by hand or otherwise with amaterial sufficient to cause such material to exert pressure against the inner surface of the head plate or cap. Now by imparting the relative rotation referred to and supplying additional material to be compressed in proximity or adjacent to the slot or slots in the head plate or cap the fibers of such additional m aterial are caught or grasped ously-introduced to the chamber or holder and which is exposed by the slot through the head plate or cap, and such fiber is drawn through the slot or opening and the compression-chamber or holder in the form of flattened highly-compressed thin sheets or layers, which are superposed upon the material previously introduced through the chamber, thereby adding to the mass of such previouslyintroduced material, each layer serving to advance such mass to the extent thereof through the chamber or holder. In this manner the material finally emerges from the chamber or holder in the form of a highly-compressed column. In order to prevent the endwise ex pansion of the column, the head of a hydraulic or other jack is arranged to engage the advancing end of the column, said head or jack yielding before the advancing end of the column and against a sufficient resistance to prevent expansion of the column until finally a sufficient length of the highly-compressed column has advanced to form a length sufficient for a commercial bale. Such length is then severed or otherwise detached from the column and the jack or head is lowered away from the end of the column and the de' tached bale removed, the head or jack being returned to engaging relation with respect to the end of the column which remains with the compressing apparatus, the operation then proceeding as before.

one of the open ends of said chamber or In the form of hydraulic jacks heretofore between the surface of the material previusually employed in connection with a compressing apparatus of the type above referred to the head or jack, which abuts against the end of the advancing column of compressed material, revolves with suchcompressed column during the rotation thereof, and it has been the usual custom to so mount the head of the jack and the cylinder which actuates the same as to cause the jack to revolve in the jack-cylinder. This is obj ectionable for many reasons. In the first place, the packing, which forms a tight joint between the jack-cylinder and the jack, is subjected to a great deal of wear. The undue wear thus imposed upon this packing causes the same to wear out quickly, thereby causing the packing to leak and involving expense and trouble and considerable time to replace the same. Again, more work is imposed upon the gearing of the compressing apparatus by having to revolve the entire jack.

It is the special purpose of the present invention to provide a construction of thrustbearing wherein these objections are avoided, and in carrying out my invention I providea cap upon the end of the jack which is mounted to revolve thereon and relatively thereto, thus avoiding revolving the wholejack, and the desired result is accomplished by utilizing the hydraulic or other pressure employed for raising or lowering the jack.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the jack-cylinder, designed to be firmly fixed to the brace or frame of the compressing apparatus and held against movement.

B is the jack or plunger, which preferably is made hollow. Resting upon the end of the jack or plunger is a cap or head 0, provided with a hollow stem 0, arranged to extend into the hollow jack or plunger and serving as a receptacle for oil or other lubricant.

E is a plunger-head adapted to revolve with relation to the plunger. This plunger-head is provided with a flange E and a hollow stem or bar E such stem being adapted to fit snugly into the hollow stem 0 of the cap-cylinder O, and which forms abearing therefor.

I (J is a ring securely bolted to the head 0 and arranged to extend over the flange E, and interposed between ring 0 and flange E is a packing F, which may be composed of any suitable material. A ring F, preferably made of metal or some stiff material, serves to hold the inner surface of. the packing-ring from pressing inwardly, and thereby creating undue friction against the adjacent surface of the head E.

' The construction so far described is common to both forms of my invention, (shown in the drawings but diiferent arrangements are shown in the two views of the drawings for efiecting an efficient lubricant of the contacting surfaces of head E and cap 0, and I will first describe the construction illustrated in Fig. 1. Connected to the bottom of stem 0 and extending upwardly therethrough is a pipe 0, and connected to the bottom of plunger B and extending upwardly therethrough and also through the pipe 0 is a pipe b. The pipes c b may be suitably held together-as, for instance, by means of a gland bthe pipe I) communicating or opening into the hollow stem 0 at the upper end thereof and at its bottom end with the plunger-cylinder A. The cap 0 is formed into a cup, as clearly shown in the drawing, in which operates the flange E of the plunger-head E. A perforation or opening G forms a communication between this cup or space and the interior of stem or chamber 0, which, as above indicated, is designed to be filled with oil. The head 0 is provided with a perforation G which serves to drain the lubricant from the cup in the neck or end surface of cap 0 when it is desirable or necessary to take the apparatus apart. This also serves to lubricate the stem E as it revolvesin its bearingin the open end of chamber 0. If desired and in order to facilitate the lubrication of the bearing-sun faceofthe stem E said stemmay be provided on the peripheral surface thereof with .a groove extending from the cup into chamber C. If desired, a removable plug G may be arranged in the top of the revolvingplunger-head to permit or enable the chamber 0 to be filled therethrough with oil or other proper lubricant. H is a pipe which communicates with the plunger-cylinder A and isconnected at its other end with a pump or other suitable source of pressure. I is a packing-ring,which serves to form a tight connection with the plunger and plunger-cylinder. This packing is applied by means of a cap A, firmly bolted to a flange on cylinder A and operating to press and hold the packing firmly therebetween.

The operation of the construction so far described is as follows: The operating medium enters the cylinder A through pipe H to move the plunger B longitudinally therethrough. The pressure in cylinder A communicates with the chamber 0 through pipe 1), thereby forcing the oil or other lubricant contained in said chamber 0 through the perforation or passage G into the bearing-cup in the top of cap 0 against the under partor surface of the revolving head E. It will be observed that the area of this head E which is exposed to the pressure is somewhat greater than the area of the plunger B, and consequently the flange E is pressed firmly against the packing-ring F, and since the downward pressure of the load imposed on the end surface of head E is practically the same as the pressure -E and packing-ring F. Consequently the plunger-head turns upon and with reference to the plunger, thereby forming a perfect bearing which is always lubricated by the oil under pressure. It will be understood, of course, that the packing-ring F remains stationary and the plunger-head revolves, the relatively moving surfaces of these parts be ing indicated by reference-sign J. cylinder A is opened to exhaustthat is,whcn the pressure in said. cylinder is reduced-the oil or lubricant which has been forced from chamber G into the cup-bearing in the end surface of cap 0 flows back into the cham ber or hollow Stem 0 through the passage G, thus preventing the lubricant from mingling with the water or other operating fluid or me dium in the plunger-cylind er, and hence avoiding waste. water, when oil is used as a lubricant it will always be at the top of chamber 0 and would thus serve to lubricate the bearing until it is all used up.

It is desirable to prevent the flange E from dropping away from the packing F when the pressureis lowered in the plunger-cylinder and also to prevent undue clutching of the contacting surfaces of said packing F and flange E when the apparatus is first started up. In Fig. 2 I have shown a construction and arrangement embodying the principles above set forth, but wherein means are disclosed for preventing the objections above noted. In this construction a pipe B affords means to connect the lower end of plunger B and the lower end of chamber 0 between cylinder A and the chamber 0, thus affording a passage between said chamber and cylinder. Avalve B isarranged in the pipe 13 to be seated by the back'pressure from chamber C toward the cylinder, thus cutting off any backward flow of the'fluid from the stem 'or chamber G into cylinder A when the pressure in said cylinder is under exhaust or let down. The purpose of this is to prevent the escape of oil from the hollow stem or chamber G into the circulating system, where it might be drawn off into the discharge. By employing this valve B however, the pressure in the stem or chamber O"is maintained even when the pressure in the plunger-cylinder A is let down, and as a consequence the bearing-surface of packing-ring F and flange E would be tightly gripped together when the plunger is performing no function. The result would be that when it was desired to start up again there would be more friction between the contacting surfaces of F and E than between the packing I and plunger 13, and consequently rotation would be imparted to the plunger or jack instead of to the head E thereof. This would continue until the pressure in the plunger-cylinder exceeded that which was already in the stem or chamber O or until the friction created by the pressure of the operating medium against the plunger B was less than the friction between the contacting surfaces of packing-ring F and flange E. To avoid this trouble, a small pressure-relief valve is arranged in the valve B said relief-valve being yieldingly When- Of course, oil being lighter than held to its seat by a spring 13 the tension of said spring being so proportioned and adjusted as to allow the instant relief of any excessive pressure against the packing F, 'but sufficient to prevent the oil from dripping through from chamber C, by reason of its own weight. b is a spider, which is provided merely for the purpose of preventing the valve B from becoming displaced. WVhen the pressure against the under side of the head E is relieved, said head would settle down away from packing F, and to avoid this, which is objectionable, I form a shoulder K within the stem or chamber 0 and upon which rests a spider K. This spider is locked against rotation relative to the stem E of head E in any suitable manner as, for instance, by means of lugs 7c,arranged to fit into grooves k of said stem, as clearly shown. A rod K is arranged to pass loosely through a central opening in spider K and to extend into the hollow stem E of the head E. Interposed between a collar K on said rod and spider K is a spring K of sufiicient tension to hold or sustain the weight of the revolving head E and to hold the same in position for the flange 'E thereof to constantly bear against or contact with the packing-ring F. In'order to secure a desirable relative adjustment of head E and its supporting-rod K said rod may be arranged to bear against a setscrew L, threaded into the top of the head, as clearly shown.

Many other modifications, variations, and changes. in the details of construction and arrangement may be devised for carrying into practical operation the principles of my invention, the generic features of which are to prevent the jack or plunger from revolving, or rather to permit of a rotation of the plunger-head relatively to the jack, the pressure upon the packing of such head being less than that upon the packing of the plunger or ram; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and various constructions and arrangements embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thrust bearing, a fluid operated jack, ahead rotatably mounted on the moving portion of the jack, and means wherebythe friction opposing rotation of said moving portion when in operation exceeds the friction opposing rotation of said head, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a thrust-bearing, a cylinder, a fluidoperated jack arranged to operate longitudinally therein, and a packing interposed between said jack and the cylinder, in combination with a head carried by said jack and mounted for rotation relatively thereto, a packing for said head, the frictional resist ance of the packing for the head being less than that of the packing of said jack, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a thrust-bearing, a fluid-operated jack, a pressure-cylinder through which said jack operates, a plunger-head carried by said jack and mounted thereon for rotation and for slight longitudinal movement relative to said jack, and means for opening communication between said pressure-cylinder and the bearing for said head, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a thrust-bearing, a fluidoperated jack, a pressure-cylinder through which said jack operates, a cap carried by said jacli, a plunger-head carried by said cap and mounted thereonfor rotation relative thereto, and means for opening communication between said pressure-cylinder and the bearing for said plunger-head, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a thrust-bearing, a fluidoperated jack, a pressure-cylinder through which said jack operates, a cap provided with a chamher, a plunger-head rotatively mounted upon said cap, said chamber communicating with the bearing of said head, and means for opening communication between said pressurecylinder and said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a thrust-bearing, a fluidoperated jack, a cap carried thereby and provided with a chamber, a plunger head, a bearing ring carried by said cap and against which said plunger-head bears, and a packing interposed between said plunger-head and said bearingring, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a thrust-bearing, a fluidoperated jack, a pressure-cylinder through which said jack operates, a cap carried by said jack and provided with a chamber, a bearing-ring connected to said cap, a plunger-head provided with a flange arranged to engage said bearing-ring, a packing interposed between said flange and bearing-ring, said chamber communicating with the seat for said flange, and means for opening communication between said pressure-cylinder and said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

. 8. Inathrust-bearing,apressure-cylinder,

- into a cup or seat in the end thereof, a plunjack and provided with a chamber, a plungerhead arranged with a stem fitted in said cham ber, a bearing-ring carried by said cap, said plunger-head provided with a flange arranged to engage said bearing-ring, the stem of said lun er-head rovided with an o enin or passage opening communication betweensaid chamber and bearing for said flange, and said cap provided with an opening or passage com municating with the bearing for said flange and with the bearing for said stem, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a cap carried by said jack and provided with a chamber, a plunger-head having a stemjournaled in said chamber, a bearing for said plunger-head, said chamber communicating with said bearing, and means for opening communication between said pressure-cylinder and said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a bearing-ring supported by said jack, a plunger-head mounted for rotation relative to said jack and engaging said bearing-ring, and means for yieldingly maintaining said plunger-head in engagement with said bearingring, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a packing therefor,in combination with a bearing-ring supported by said jack, a plungerhead mounted for rotation relatively to said jack and engaging said bearing-ring, a packing interposed between said head and ring, and a spring arranged to yieldingly support said plunger-head and to maintain the same in engagement with said hearing, as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a cap supported upon said jack, a bearing carried by said cap, a plunger-head carried by said cap for rotation relatively thereto and arranged to engage said bearing, a rod arranged to support said plunger-head, and a spring interposed between'said rod and cap and operating to yieldingly maintain said plunger-head in engagement with said bear-v ing, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a thrustbearing, a fluid -operated jack, a cap carried thereby and provided with a bearing, a plunger-head mounted for rotation relatively to said cap and arranged to engage said bearing,a rod for supporting said head, a spring interposed between said rod and cap, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a thrust-bearing, a fluid-operated jack, a cap carried thereby and provided with a bearing, a plunger-head mounted for rotation relatively to said cap and arranged to engage said bearing, a set-screw tapped through said plunger-head, a rod arranged to bear against said set-screw, and a spring interposed IIG between said rod and cap, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a cap provided with a chamber and having a bearing, a head mounted for rotation relatively to said cap and arranged to engage said bearing, said bearing communicating with said chamber, a pipe arranged to open communication between said pressure-cylinder and chamber, and a valve arranged in said pipe, as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a cap carried by said jack and provided with a chamber, said cap having a bearing, a plunger-head mounted for rotation relatively to said cap and arranged to engage said bearing, said bearing communicating with said chamher, a pipe arranged to open communication between said pressure cylinder and said chamber, and a valve arranged in said pipe, said valve being arranged to seat toward said pressure-cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein and carrying a cap, said cap provided with a chamber and a bearing, a plunger -hcad mounted for rotation relatively to said cap and arranged to engage said bearing, said bearing communicating with said chamber, a pipe arranged to open communication between said pressure-cylinder and said chamber, a valve arranged in said pipe and seating toward the pressure-cylinder, and a relief-valve also arranged in said pipe seating toward said chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a cap carried-by said jack and provided with a chamber and a bearing seat, a shoulder formed in said chamber, a spider resting upon said support, a rod mounted to move through said spider, a spring interposed between said spider and rod, a plunger-head arranged to engage said bearing-seat, said plunger-head being supported by said rod, as and for the purpose set forth.

21. In a thrust bearing, a fluid-operated jack comprising a cylinder, and a member within the cylinder, and means for passage of fluid under pressure to and from said cylinder, a packing between said cylinder and in ner member, a head mounted rotatably on the moving portion of the jack, and a bearing thereon for said head having a frictional resistance to rotation less than the frictional resistance of said packing, as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a thrust bearing, a fluid-operated jack, a pressure-cylinder through which said jack operates, a plungenhead carried by said jack and mounted thereon for rotationrelative thereto, a bearing therefor, means for retainin g a body of fluid lubricant at said hearing, and a passage affording communication between said bearing and the pressure-eylin der, as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a thrust-bearing, a fluid-operated jack, a chamber at the head end of said jack adapted to retain a lubricant, a plunger-head having a bearing in said chamber, and a removable bearing and retaining-ring carried by the jack and forming one wall of said chamher, as and for the purpose set forth.

24. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylinder, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a chamber at the head end of the jack,'a removable hearing-ring carried by the jack and forming one wall of said chamber, a head for the jack arranged for rotation relative thereto and having a bearing in said chamber, and a passage communicating between said pressure-cylinder and chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

25. In a thrust-bearing, a pressure-cylin der, a fluid-operated jack operating therein, a chamber at the head end of said jack adapted to retain a body of fluid lubricant, a head for the jack arranged for rotation relative thereto and having a bearing in said chamber, a pas sage communicating between the pressurecylinder and the chamber, and a valve in said passage arranged to seat toward said pressure-cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 14th day of February, 1901, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses:

NATHANIEL LEE JOHNSON, WM. M. RHEEM.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 744,906,

granted November 24, 1903, upon the application of James T. Cowley of Lowell,

Massachusetts, for an improvement in Thrust-Bearings, was erroneously written and v printed Planters Compress Company of Maine, Whereas the said name should have been Written and printed Planters Compress Compa-m and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the some may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Cflice.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of February, A. 1)., 1904.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN Commissioner of Patents. 

